Traditionally, building archaeology is conducted by creating and interpreting 2D documentation, even though the spatial properties of a building are not fully expressed in 2D. The third dimension has been mostly neglected, due to technical limitations that can be overcome through the rapid progress in 3D technology.This study shows how a 3D GIS can be applied from the outset of a building archaeological study to create a three-dimensional information system connected to a geometrically accurate 3D model of a structure. The building under investigation was Lund Cathedral (Sweden), whose long and complex history has been studied for two centuries. Gaining an understanding of all interventions, as well as managing the heterogonous datasets, is a challenge.In order to overcome these difficulties, various datasets and their relevant metadata were imported into the ArcGIS software and linked to a geometrically accurate 3D model of the church, placing all pieces of information in their correct spatial position. Thus, data that was previously impossible to view simultaneously and in the same space can be displayed together, creating a unique holistic oversight of the available material. Through the flexibility and versatility of the system, information can be displayed and queried at will, as well as updated continuously, greatly facilitating interpretation and making it an important resource throughout the entire building archaeological study.
A challenging aspect of visibility studies is visual acuity, which concerns the clarity of vision within a given space in relation to variables such as spatial geometry, lighting conditions, the physical properties of the viewed object, or the familiarity of viewers with the target. Our research proposes a novel approach to visibility studies, based on visual acuity and its related pipeline, which integrates qualitative and quantitative aspects such as the cultural background of viewers, the illumination values of space, contrast, and size of objects of interest as well as their meaning and context. The proposed pipeline relies on 3D documentation of the investigated space, light measurements, research in optics, trigonometry calculations, and 3D GIS set against images and architectural space. The method's effectiveness is demonstrated in the study of the iconography of the Cathedral of St. John the Theologian in Nicosia, Cyprus, the work hypothesis being that the church's spatial organization, choice of scenes, and level of detail were carefully planned to establish visual narratives with strong political and religious connotations and to overall dictate the ways the building was accessed and experienced. The method can be broadly applied for visibility analyses in a variety of case-studies in closed spaces.
The ring's original size was at least 2.3 cm long, its height ±1.6 cm. It is larger than the average of gold signets from secure LM I contexts (1.97 x 1.19); rings and ring impressions found on the contemporary mainland are larger on average (2.89 x 1.67 cm): see discussion in N. BECKER, Die goldenen Siegelringe der Ägäischen Bronzezeit (2018) 97. Note: All seals with CMS numbers can be viewed online at https://arachne.uni-koeln.de/drupal/?q=en/node/196#.2 On noduli ("sealings that do not seal", i.e. without any form of attachment whatsoever) see J.
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